If you have polished concrete floors in your home or office, you likely chose them because they are so durable and easy to maintain. But these floors still require some care, especially if they are within high traffic areas. Still, you can expect little pain or frustration when maintaining them, particularly in comparison to other types of surfaces. Below, we look at how to clean polished concrete floors to maintain their beauty.
Advantages of Polished Concrete Floors
There is no floor surfacing material currently known to man that does not require maintenance. Even decorative concrete requires some effort, despite their easy-to-care-for appeal. But you can expect far fewer maintenance headaches than with any tile, carpeting, hardwood or vinyl. How much elbow grease you must apply to clean polished concrete floors depends on the amount of traffic they receive.
Advantages of low maintenance polished concrete flooring include:
- They have no grout lines, joints or fibers that trap and hold dirt
- With proper sealing, they resist stains, water and abrasions
- Pet-friendliness and easy to clean after pet messes
- Low maintenance on a daily basis, requiring only dry mopping or damp mopping
- Reapplication of sealant is only required every few years
Solutions Used to Clean
The first step in how to clean polished concrete floors comes down to the cleaning agents you should or should not use. It is important to use a pH-neutral cleaner for decorative concrete, such as one recommended by your concrete flooring contractor. You can also look for advice from the sealant manufacturer, to know which cleaning solutions to use.
No matter what cleaners you choose, you should avoid harsh products like those containing citrus, bleach, ammonia or vinegar. Do not use pine cleaners, either. All of these react with the concrete and will etch your floor surface.
Use microfiber cleaning pads to clean polished concrete floors on a daily basis, such as when dry or damp mopping. In commercial settings with high traffic, you can also use a swing buffer or auto scrubber.
How to Clean Polished Concrete Floors
When maintaining your concrete flooring, consider a proactive approach as most important. If you continually protect your floor with a quality sealer, your floor will look great for longer.
To clean polished concrete floors, follow the advice below:
- Dust mop daily using a microfiber pad
- Dirt is abrasive to the floor and can ruin the finish clarity and shine
- When wet mopping, use clean solution and a clean mop
- For floors covering many square feet, use a floor scrubber with non-abrasive pads
- For small areas of floors, use a mop and bucket for cleaning
- Use neutral cleaning solution when wet mopping
- Clean spills and stains quickly to avoid absorption into the surface
- Allow the cleaning solution enough time to break down grime and suspend the particles before washing it away
- Ensure your cleaning solution does not dry on the surface by working in small areas to enable rinsing before drying
Polished Concrete Maintenance
Besides needing to clean polished concrete floors, you also need to maintain them in other ways. These floors are very durable and easier to maintain than other types of flooring. Still, they can suffer the damage of daily life and traffic. This is why your We Do Concrete Cheap pros will offer maintenance advice after installing your own decorative concrete or polished concrete flooring in the Triangle Area of North Carolina.
When routine efforts to clean polished concrete floors no longer make them look as good as new, you may need restorative maintenance. This maintenance, provided by your concrete flooring contractor, includes use of professional equipment to fully restore your floor’s finish. Your contractor at We Do Concrete Cheap can also repair your floors when needed.
To learn more about the benefits of polished and decorative concrete for your home or commercial property, such as how easy it is to clean polished concrete floors, call We Do Concrete Cheap in Bunn, North Carolina at 919-454-3927.
